Kalki – Legendary Tamil Novelist
The mere mention of the name ‘Kalki’ is enough to send most Tamil readers of yesteryear on a nostalgia trip. Kalki is a name that awakens memories of kingdoms and the saga of war, patriotism, love and loyalty that went into the creation and demise of those kingdoms in the period of the Chola dynasty in South India.
Those who have read Kalki’s novels would instantly embark on a nostalgic journey to the scenes depicted by Kalki at the mere mention of his name. I am one of those who had the opportunity to read some of his novels. I love his unique way of making us visualize the events in our minds.
The beauty of nature and the fertile and colorful landscape, the thoughts that flow in the strategic minds, the expression of emotions and feelings that the characters go through are displayed in clear details. The vivid descriptions of each scene, whether it is the preparation for war or a meeting between two people in love, their conversations, the place and the atmosphere and everything is very well elaborated in their words. The inimitable style and skilful handling of situations and characters in his novels leave us in awe of this rare skill.
For many decades, Kalki’s novels were the craze of Tamil readers about half a century ago. To name a few, Kalki’s masterpieces were serialized in Tamil magazines Andnda Vikatan and later on Kalki.
My favorite is Kalki’s ‘Parthiban Kanavu’ which later became a good movie. This is the story of the Chola King Parthiban’s dream of re-establishing the Chola kingdom which was in the clutches of the Pallava King Narasimhavarman. Parthiban expresses his dream to his son Vikraman, who was very young and is later killed. A monk swears to Parthiban that he will make Vikraman fulfill his dream. Vikraman after growing up and falls in love with a beauty under mysterious circumstances; then he fulfills his father’s dream of an Independent Chola with Uraiyur as Capital.
In the intervening period follows a series of gripping incidents depicting extraordinary courage, deceit, loyalty, suspense, and mystery. The monk’s identity is revealed in the thrilling climax. One can’t help but marvel at the strong characterization, the sequence of events, and the suspense throughout the entire novel with such lucidity that it simply transports us back to that time.
Kalki, whose real name is R.Krishnamurthi, is known to the large population of Tamil readers as a well-known novelist who wrote both historical and social novels. But he has to give credit to his novels, short stories, travelogues, biographies and essays which contribute to all kinds of Tamil literature.
He has brought a breath of fresh air to the Tamil literary scene with his ability to infuse our country’s social life and culture into his characters and events, with realism. He had the gift of writing a natural humor that flowed through his writing, making readers enjoy his writing and read it again and again. Being a patriot himself, he was able to portray patriotic fervor in his characters.
The novels of Kalki Thiaga Boomi, Magudapathi, Apalayin Kannir, Alasi Osai, Devakiyin Kanavan, Kalvanin Kadhali etc. and many more appeared as serial stories and were later published as books. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Kalki was the pioneer of Tamil historical novels.
vasantha
I have been an avid reader of Tamil novels and stories and most types of Tamil literature. I had the opportunity to read and enjoy the works of legendary writers from the Tamil literary scene of the 1960s and 1970s. I have enjoyed the variety of style, themes, representation of society and culture, and the narration of different authors from the reader’s point of view. You can download and read ‘Parthiban Kanavu’ now from Sangapalagai.com.